Wednesday, 23 December 2015

An
article appeared on The Conversation the other day, asking whether we should
let children believe in Father Christmas? I don’t have children myself, but
this is something I have thought about. As a sceptic and non-believer in
anything (!) deemed ‘superstitious’ my logical brain tells me the answer should
be NO.

However,
I fondly remember as a child waiting for a glimpse of him on Christmas Eve. One year I
thought I heard sleigh bells! I don’t remember when I found out he wasn’t
real (apologies if that’s news to you). So I was either old enough to deal
with it or it was so traumatic I blocked it out?!

Without
that early belief would watching Christmas films as an adult be the same? The
emotional and nostalgic feelings we have for our early Christmases can be
comforting, during what can be a difficult time. The ‘magic’ of Christmas wouldn’t be the same if it was all about having to spend time with
relatives (you avoided the rest of the year) or eating so much you felt sick.

If
you substitute ‘Father Christmas’ for ‘God’ the above argument takes on a
different perspective… Many commentators have said setting-up children to
believe in superstitious thinking may lead to deficits in critical and
scientific thinking later on.

For
me, critical thinking is about questioning the status quo so it may actually
help. Children are naturally curious and don’t always accept the Christmas myths
without asking a few questions, e.g. How can Father Christmas get into our
house if we don’t have a chimney?

I used to joke I believed in Father Christmas (but not ghosts or God) as
it was obviously silly but he is no more ‘provable’ than other beings many accept
as fact. Anyway, it’ll soon be Christmas and I won’t have to think about it
for another year… Maybe I’ll decide after I see what presents he’s got me.

Saturday, 12 December 2015

It's been a busy end of term for me and the
society. We've had some fascinating events, guest speakers and podcasts. One of
the highlights was a guest lecture from Callum Cooper from Northampton
University on 'Telephone Calls From The Dead'.

This has links with my own research in Electronic
Voice Phenomena (EVP) and the idea that electronic equipment can be used to
contact the dead. In this instance they contact the living. It's no surprise
these follow the progress in technology and I wonder when we'll get the first
report via a smart watch!

Whilst the phenomena is rare, I have spoken to a couple of people who have experienced
this - a telephone call and a text message. People are often reluctant to talk
about their paranormal experiences, particularly to researchers who they think may
be judgemental, so there could be many more who’ve had this.

I was fortunate that Chloe was willing to discuss
her experience and you can listen to her account (in a haunted hotel!) here: Telephone Call From A Ghost!

I was lucky enough to speak to John about his experience of
pre-cognitive dreams and you can listen on the podcast below.

The debate among psychologists about the phenomenon often
descends into arguments about statistics but large number of people report these
dreams. It’s not something I’ve experiences myself but it’s an intriguing topic…

Saturday, 14 November 2015

I was lucky enough to be invited to a college seminar/paranormal investigation at
Ordsall Hall, Salford by the Ghost Tours UK team. I’ve not been ghost hunting for a while,
due to uni commitments, and some would say what’s the point if you don’t
believe in ghosts? But I’m fascinated by the psychology of paranormal perception
and if they are real, I might see one! Ordsall Hall is said to be haunted by the
ghost of the White Lady who died of a broken heart after her brother died in
war.

The
team gave a talk on their research methods and the evidence they’ve obtained. This
was opened-up for discussion on what level of proof those present would need to
be convinced in the paranormal. Is seeing believing? As usual, I bored everyone
about my research and EVP (electronic voice phenomena). Luckily, everyone was
still awake by the time we started the investigation…

In
the Star Chamber we sat in a circle and held hands. The medium asked the
spirit(s) to lift our arms. To my surprise, the arm of the student next to me (and
mine) started to rise. The sceptical interpretation would be suggestion and unconscious
movement. However, as my hand was on top (and not moving, promise!) I can’t comment
on what was doing it. I asked the student how it felt and they said it was as
though it was being pushed from beneath.

I
was in for a bigger surprise in the next room. In the Main Chamber we sat on
the floor again and called out. The medium said he had
someone for me from two generations back. I won’t comment on the reading but
suffice to say it was 100% accurate and somewhat disconcerting for me. I made
the joke that even though I’m a sceptic my dead relatives keep trying to
contact me! I have previously had my grandfather come through.

In
the kitchen we did some glass divination and dowsing with positive
responses. In the attic we did an EVP session with the P-SB7 spirit box and you
can listen to the audio below. Finally,
there was a mediumship demonstration in the Main Hall where several people had
messages relayed to them. These seemed meaningful to them but I didn’t speak to
them afterwards to discuss the content.

It
was a well organised and balanced event with differing viewpoints on the paranormal
embraced. I hope the students enjoyed it and, you never know, they might decide
to research the psychology of paranormal perception like me!

I’ve
attached some of the pictures from the event and the audio of the EVP session below.

You
can find out more about Ordsall Hall and their Ghostcam here: Ordsall Hall

Check
out the Ghost Tours UK Facebook group for their next event: Ghost Tours UK

Thursday, 12 November 2015

After submitting my Mum’s ghost story (see post
below) I remembered another supernatural tale from my childhood. A local legend
this time, the Wizard of The Edge in Alderley Edge. It’s widely known around
here and has been the subject of books (‘The Weirdstone of Brisingamen: A Tale of
Alderley' Alan Garner, 1960) and a sculpture at the Wilmslow Sainsburys (1989,
Judith Bluck). The Edge is both beautiful and atmospheric and I encourage you
to visit. The location was also used for the BBC 3 zombie series ‘In the
Flesh’.

I
was told the tale as part of a geography field trip at primary school. It
certainly added an extra dimension to the visit. Possibly, helped by the fact I
was walking under an umbrella with a massive metal spike duringa thunder storm. I survived the experience.

“A
farmer from Mobberley was taking a white mare to sell at the market in
Macclesfield. Whilst walking along the Edge, he reached a spot known locally as
"Thieves Hole." Suddenly an old man dressed in a grey, flowing
garment stopped him. The old man offered the farmer a sum of money for his
horse but the farmer refused, saying he could get a better price at the market.
The old man told the farmer that he would be at this spot again when the farmer
returned, not having found a seller for the horse. The farmer failed to sell
the horse and cursing his luck made the journey back home along the Edge.

At the
same point, the old man appeared again, repeating his offer, which this time it
was accepted. The old man told the farmer to follow him with the horse. As they
approached an area just past Stormy Point, the old man held out a wand and
muttered a spell. To the farmer's shock, the rock opened to reveal a pair of
huge iron gates, which the ‘wizard’ opened by casting another spell. The
frightened horse threw its rider and the farmer knelt before the wizard and
begged for mercy. But the wizard assured him he would come to no harm and told
him to enter.

The
farmer did so and was led through the gates into a large cavern. In the cavern,
the farmer saw countless men and white horses, all asleep. In a recess there
was a chest, from which the wizard took the payment for the horse. The
astonished farmer asked what all this meant; the wizard explained that all
these sleeping warriors were ready to awake and fight should England fall into
danger. He then ordered the farmer to leave and the gates slammed shut. The
rock face returned to its previous state. The farmer told his friends of his
experience but when he returned with them the following day there was no sign
of the mysterious iron gates”.

Wednesday, 11 November 2015

Here’s
where my fascination with the paranormal started, my Mum’s ghost story. Still
the best one I’ve ever heard…

“My
story begins in the little village of Loftus in Yorkshire where my father was
born. Each summer my parents, brother and I spent a week with my grandmother in
her little terraced house on our summer holiday. When I was 16 I was told I
could take a friend as I was finding family holidays boring.

My friend agreed to come with us, her name was Mary and as well as being
friends we worked together. We were not able to stay at my grandmother’s house
as it was too small for us all, so Mary and I had to stay with my aunt, uncle
and cousin Keith in the centre of Loftus. They also lived in a row of terraced
houses which were down a lane just off the village square.

One evening Mary and I decided to go to the cinema (in the village centre) so
had an early tea and went to see a film. When the film was over we called in at
the fish and chip shop on the corner and bought some supper. Walking back to my
aunt and uncle’s house we decided to carry on past their house and walk further
down the lane as we had not finished our food. We felt it would be rude to
return back still eating and without buying them anything.

The lane had stone walls on either side but further down the pavement changed
to a dirt track. We were now walking past the last street lights and as we were
going into the dark we decided to turn round and go back…

The first thing I was aware of as I started to turn round was the feeling I had
walked into a cobweb that brushed my face. I was facing the stone wall on my
right. I then saw what I thought was a woman riding a bike in the field over
the wall. I realised that this woman appeared to be gliding into the centre of
the field. She was dressed in a Victorian dress and had a bonnet with flowers
round the rim and chiffon holding the bonnet on which ended in a floppy bow
under her chin. She was also holding a parasol which was half open. It was like
looking at an old film. You could see all the detail but everything was opaque.
I don't remember seeing her face.

It
was all over in seconds but I realised the importance of what I had seen and
was keen to validate the experience. I turned to Mary and asked her if she had
seen the lady in the field and to my relief she had seen her as well. Just to
make absolutely sure, we each described different details of her clothing and
they matched, so there was no doubt in our minds that we both had seen the same
thing!

When
we returned, my aunt and uncle had gone to bed so we had to wait until the next
morning before we could ask them about the history of the area. My aunt told us
that just a little further down the lane was a large house that was not lived
in any more. It had belonged to a wealthy wool merchant but the house was
abandoned after a tragedy in the family.

The
wool merchant and his wife only had one child, a daughter, who was prone to
sleepwalking.

When
the house was lived in, there was a lake in the grounds near to where we had
seen the woman. The last task of the day for the house staff was to lock the
doors once the family had retired to bed.

One
night this was overlooked and the young woman walked in her sleep down the
staircase through the hall, out of the front door into the grounds and walked
into the lake which was in the field we had seen her in and she had drowned. So
distraught was the family that they left the house and never returned.

There
was no interaction or recognition of our presence from this woman, it was just
like watching a film clip, but I feel privileged to have been at the right
place at the right time to see her”

My Mum and I tried to find where it
happened. We think it was left by the corner of the cinema, further down
Cleveland St on the left. Maybe we'll have to go back there. If you have a real-life ghost story
you’d like to share email us at: mmuparapsychsoc@hotmail.com

Tuesday, 10 November 2015

I finally got round to watching Most Haunted Live from
Halloween. I was aware of the controversy surrounding some of the events (#ropegate)
so was keen to see what all the fuss was about…

I was reminded of my first foray into MHL, 10 years ago on Sat
3rd September 2005 at ‘Cheadle’s Victorian Asylum’. I got
places in the audience and was really excited. I was ‘open minded’ back then.

My family didn’t have Sky so had only seen ML and MHL on Freeview
channel FTN. These were early episodes where the crew got scared and not much
happened. The only live show I’d seen was Dudley Castle where the audience were
at the location. I was in for a few surprises…

We were told to collect our tickets from a sports hall
outside Manchester and were delighted that Derek Acorah turned-up. That was before
phones cameras so didn’t get a selfie with him, unfortunately. I know he has
his detractors but he was lovely and spoke to us individually. We went back there for the show. That’s when the illusion of MHL was shattered for
me and I realised it was ‘just’ a TV show.

Firstly, we were herded around like cattle and told if we
didn’t get back to our seats during breaks we’d lose our place. We were searched
(probably standard practice) and not allowed to take drinks in, it was very hot
too*.

I could have coped with all this if it hadn’t been for the fact WE
WEREN’T AT THE LOCATION! We were merely there to make the appropriate
responses/noises. They weren’t even at an asylum! It was Barnes Convalescence
Home which had a much more mundane history.

I know I was probably naive but it was such a disappointment. Over the next few months we had the fakery allegations - Kreed Kafer/Rik Eedles - and Derek
left. ML and MHL carried on but it was never the same for me.

So, I suppose I
shouldn’t have been surprised by MHL 2015 and the subsequent debate. Maybe there
isn’t a market for a truly scientific paranormal TV show. From my experiences of
ghost hunting it would be quite boring and I would probably be the only one
watching.

We’re all wiser now to media manipulation and the corporate
world behind it. A bit like when you realise there’s no Father Christmas and
your parents had to max out their credit card to pay for your presents. Sorry
kids!

*These criticisms are levelled at the security/event staff
not the crew themselves

Saturday, 7 November 2015

Have you had a personal experience
that you would consider to be paranormal?

We’re collating accounts for our
‘real-life ghost stories’ series. This can be done as an audio recording (for a podcast) - on campus at Manchester or Skype - or a submitted written account. We won’t use your name,
unless you want us to. Just email us: mmuparapsychsoc@hotmail.com

The Manchester Metropolitan University Parapsychology Society aims to promote research,
creative work and organise events that explore parapsychological themes.We meet every full moon at locations in Manchester to discuss all things paranormal.

I’m a regular visitor to
Beaumaris, Anglesey but haven’t been round the castle for a while. On a wet
weekday afternoon I decided to visit, figuring it would be quiet. It was and I
got soaked.

Most of you will be familiar with
the haunted past of Beaumaris Gaol (Most Haunted et.al, 2007). I went on a
paranormal investigation there in 2014. But the castle is also said to be
haunted by the ghostly chants of previous occupants, a sense of being watched
and a feeling of loneliness.

Dating back to 1295, the castle
was never completed. If you subscribe to the ‘Stone Tape’ theory (where ancient
stones record and play back historical events) this is an ideal candidate for
ghostly sights and sounds.

Walking inside the castle walls
(trying to keep dry) was certainly an unsettling experience. Looking down the
long, dark corridors I expected to see a figure standing there. I didn’t but
the mind plays tricks on you. The chapel is definitely the most atmospheric
area. The acoustics are amazing and you could see how people might hear ghostly
echoes.

The only other-worldly visitor I
encountered was a sleeping bat. Luckily, I’m not scared of bats and the flash
didn’t go off when I took the picture – that could have had ‘hilarious
consequences’!

Beaumaris Castle is certainly worth
a visit. It provides an ideal location for capturing EVP’s (Electronic Voice Phenomena),
particularly in the quieter off-peak season. It’s a blank canvas where your imagination
can run wild…

About Me

Hi, I’m Claire and I kind of look like a witch. Imagine the lovechild of Fox Mulder and Dana Scully – a sceptic who wants to believe.
My fascination with the paranormal started young, listening to my Mother’s ghost stories. I spent most of my childhood desperately wanting to see a ghost. I didn’t.
Studying psychology has made me a sceptic but I still go ghost hunting. I’m now researching paranormal belief and Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP) for my MSc at Manchester Metropolitan University. I am a member of the British Psychological Society, Society of Psychical Research and founding member of the MMU Parapsychology Society.
Join me on this blog for a variety of supernatural treats – ghost hunting experiences, spooky locations, (para)psychology and everything in between...
Twitter: @ClaireWitchFile
Facebook: The Claire Witch Files
Website: www.clairewitchfiles.com
Email: clairewitchfiles@hotmail.com
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